Lasers in Medicine • Medical applications one of fastest growing laser fields • $US400 million (2004), 7.5% of laser sales • Growing at ~10%/year, but more slowly than overall laser market • Three main Areas: • Surgery, as a cutting tool • Ophthalmology (eye operations) • Dermatology (Skin Operations)

Lasers for Medicine • CO2 laser widely used for cutting 10.6 µm heavily absorbed by water evaporation of water leads to destruction of tissue • Nd:Yag penetrates deeper, but widely used • Argon laser: skin blemishes, Ophthalmology • Eximer: Cornea shaping & Herpes

Beam Penetration in Skin • Nd:Yag penetrates the most: 4.2 mm typical • CO2 relatively shallow: 0.23 mm

Laser Surgery • Laser beam cuts and removes tissue • Beam precisely positioned and automated • Can reach inaccessible areas using beam directors (CO2) & fiber optics (Nd:Yag) • Limited damage to adjacent tissues • Cauterizes nearby blood vessels reduces bleeding

Laser Operations using Fiber Optics • Fiber optic cables contain light guides • Very small, thus easy to insert into body removes need for major surgery in some cases • Same fiber bundle can also transmit image of scene • Eg Coronary Bypass & Stroke Prevention problem is build up of plague Artery reduces Artery size, causes stroke • Fiber inserted into artery • Plague absorbs Argon laser light removed from walls Plague has different absorption from Artery Walls

Other Laser Surgery Laser Tonsillectomy • Use CO2 with mirror bouncing system • Operation takes 15 minutes, no pain • Cauterizes blood vessels & Lymphatic vessels no blood in throat • Patient eat & drink just after operation unlike regular surgery

Gastrointesinal Surgery • Uses fiber to bring in Argon Beam Same system my combine CO2 gas to remove blood • Cauterizes blood vessels • Beam used to stop bleeding internally • Esophagus, Stomach & Intestines Endoscopic (Fiber Optic) Laser Fallopian Tube Surgery • Blockages in Fallopian tubes common cause of infertility in Women • Use Endoscopic Laser fiber optic direction of CO2 beam • Burns away blockages, in 1-2 pulses

Laser Dermatology (Skin Operations) • Use the ability of the Laser to penetrate the skin • Most common Argon laser removing skin discolourations • eg Portwine marks: blood coloured birth defects • Argon laser bleaches out blood spots • Green light strongly absorbed by the red blood colour defects • Much less absorbed by skin Almost removes such spots as they are near the surface • Laser tattoo removals: done with Nd:Yag • Nd:Yag Near IR light penetrates skin to tattoo depth • Near IR strongly absorbed by dye: bleaches tattoo dye, • but is weakly absorbed by skin so no damage to skin

Photoradiation Therapy Herpes • Uses laser light to cause direct or indirect treatment • eg Herpes virus creates lesions in skin and moist tissue • Little in conventional treatment • CO2 used to destroy diseased cells & virus • Beam directed on lesions using a microscope destroys tissue without bleeding Cancer Photoradition • Patient injected with dye (eg HpD) • Dye absorbed preferentially by Cancer tissue normal tissue excretes dye • Exposed to 630 nm HpD has photochemical reaction produces a poison directly only in cancer tissue • 630 nm obtained from Argon pumped Dye laser Laser Acupuncture • He-Ne laser, penetrates 3-10 mm • Laser irradiated for 60 sec at 2 mW controversial process

Ophthalmology (eye operations) & Dentistry • Most common attaching detached retinas • Uses Argon laser beam (Sometimes Ruby laser) • Beam strongly absorbed by blood • Creates a burn scar which reattaches retina • Laser cornea shaping with Eximers (already discussed) • Eximer also for Dentistry removal of diseased soft tissue

Laser Confinement Fusion • Use powerful laser to compress and heat hydrogen • Hydrogen stored in very small pellets • Outside of pellet boiled off by laser beam Terawatt power • Ablation causes pellet to compress & heat • reach temperature/pressure of sun • Get Fusion reaction

MeVnHeHH 14423 ++→+

Argus Laser Fusion Facility • Lawrence Livermore Labs: 2 Terawatt

Shiva Laser Fusion Facility • 20 Arm Nd:Yag system • Lawrence Livermore Labs: 2 Terawatt

Laser Fusion Reactor • Pellets dropped into reactor • Laser ignites small explosion • Liquid Lithium shield adsorbs neutrons and energy • Regular "steam" generator to get power

National Ignition Facility • National Ignition Facility (NIF) newest design • 1.8 megaJoul, frequency tripled Nd:glass laser • 10 ps pulse, 1019 W/cm2 • 192 beam lines combined • Test concepts with Peta Wat laser • 1.25x1015W, 0.55 ps pulse, 1021 W/cm2 • Located at Lawrence Livermore Labs

Laser Flight • Use orbital laser satellites to send down beams orbital solar power satellites • Light focused and tracts aircraft • Flight takes off normally - regular engines • Works in upper atmosphere

Laser Powered Turbofan • Laser light focused into heat exchanger • Acts as black body cavity • heat exchanger heats air • Air expands as in regular turbofan • Engine runs without fuel and pollution

Laser Driven Rocket Engines • Laser light focused into rocket chamber • Absorbed by "fuel" eg ice/water • Fuel boils off and expands in chamber • Can be heated much higher than regular material • Very simple construction • Alterative design: light enters side window • Less problem with blocking by exhaust • Estimate that would have Specific Impulse of 1000-2000 sec • Specific Impulse how long on pound of fuel produces 1 pound of thrust • Shuttle engines Isp 430 sec

Laser Detonation • Also called External Radiation Heating (ERH) • Aircraft shape forms engine • LSD - Laser Shock wave Detonation moves along body

Laser Flying Saucer • Can shape top surface as mirror to focus laser light • Create Laser Detonation at bottom edges • Lifts the body • Change direction by tilting top • Result a Flying Saucer • Several experimental models have flown

Laser Detonation Flight • If laser light focused to enough intensity • air breaks down, get a detonation • Creates a shock wave • Very powerful use of laser light